LYNX

Lynx (Felis lynx) (Felis lynx), short-tailed cat of the family Felidae, found in the forests of Europe, Asia, and northern North America. The lynx is related to the bobcat, or bay lynx, and to the caracal, or Persian (desert) lynx; all were formerly placed in the genus Lynx. There are several races of lynxes. The Canada lynx is sometimes separated as a distinct species (Felis canadensis), as is the pardel, or Spanish, lynx (F. pardina), an endangered European species now found only in montane regions of southern Spain. The lynx is a long-legged, large-pawed cat with tufted ears, hairy soles, and a broad, short head. Its coat, which forms a bushy ruff on the neck, is tawny to cream coloured and somewhat mottled with brown and black; the tail tip and ear tufts are black. In winter the fur is dense and soft, up to 10 cm (4 inches) long, and is sought for trimming garments. The lynx is from 80 to 100 cm long, without the 1020-centimetre tail, and stands about 60 cm at the shoulder. It weighs from 10 to 20 kg (22 to 44 pounds). Nocturnal and silent, except during the mating season, the lynx lives alone or in small groups. It climbs and swims well and feeds on birds and small mammals, occasionally taking deer. The Canada lynx depends heavily on snowshoe rabbits for food, and its population increases and decreases regularly every 9 or 10 years, relative to the population of its prey. The lynx breeds in late winter or early spring, and a litter of one to four young is born after a gestation period of about two months.